Text: “He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his possessions” (Psalm 105:21).
Have you ever received a promotion? All of us have gone to school during our lifetime. At the end of each school year we looked forward to moving to the next class in the fall. In other words, we looked to be promoted to the next class.
We have all been in the workforce and most of the time a new job put us at the bottom of the ladder. We started with the lowest pay for that position because we were the new kid on the block, because company policy dictated that’s where we start, we lacked experience or we just did not have the right connections.
Many times if you know the right people and they like you, opportunities will come to surface. I sure there have been times when we were well-qualified and had the experience and got the position, but for some reason the compensation was insufficient for what the job description depicted.
I cannot recall a time in my life when I received a promotion or a new position or job that just came my way without me even thinking about it. Each time I have made a position or job change, I had to put forth the effort necessary to let people know I was interested and that I was qualified. In other words, I was never handed anything on a silver platter. I am not complaining. I have always had a job or two and have never been out of work.
The promotion Joseph received from Pharaoh was totally unexpected. What qualifications did Joseph have that would make him eligible for the role of governor of Egypt?
He was the son of Jacob and helped his eleven brothers tend his father’s herd of sheep; thus, he was a shepherd. His brothers were jealous of him because he was favored by their father. Joseph almost became a statistic, but instead of destroying him or killing him, the brothers sold him to a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead and going to Egypt.
When the caravan reached Egypt, Joseph was sold like a piece of merchandise to Potiphar who was one of Pharaoh’s officials. Joseph became a slave working in the household of Potiphar. God was with Joseph and it was not long before he would be promoted to head servant or chief servant or attendant to Potiphar.
This promotion came because Potiphar noticed that the LORD gave Joseph success in everything that came his way and this success benefited Potiphar. Did the position of servant or attendant qualify Joseph to eventually become governor of Egypt? Let’s go on with the story and that question will be answered a little later in the message.
Things were going well until Potiphar’s wife didn’t get what she was after. She was unable to persuade Joseph to commit the act of disobedience against God which would lead to adultery; thus, breaking one of God’s Laws.
Since she failed in her attempt to entice Joseph, she proceeded to plan #2 which involved telling Potiphar how Joseph tried to take advantage of her. Potiphar believed his wife and Joseph was put in prison. This certainly was not a promotion. This move wouldn’t qualify Joseph to eventually become governor of anything or would this prison term work in Joseph’s favor?
Joseph never questioned God as to why these various things were happening to him. He continued his close relationship with the Father and waited for the Father to lead him in the next move.
We have had undesirable events in our life, but have we stood firm in our faith and our relationship with God? Each one of us has been mistreated in some manner during our lifetime. We have been blamed and we have paid the price for things of which we were not guilty. We have been passed up for a promotion. We have faced sickness, surgery, disease, fear, and loss of a loved one.
Have we been able to accept the circumstances knowing that God was still in control and that he would continue to lead us in the direction we should go? Do we remember His words: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
Most of us have loved-ones and friends around us when undesirable circumstances surface in our life. In some cases this is good and in some cases it is bad. It depends on whether their attitude is positive or negative, encouraging or discouraging or helpful or destructive. Joseph had no family or friends to help him. He did not give up or feel sorry for himself; instead, he kept his focus on Almighty God.
Joseph went from a shepherd to: slave, servant, attendant and then to prisoner. These events in his life do not seem to quality him for a promotion to governor of Egypt. All these events seemed to be working against Joseph, but Joseph never once blamed God for the circumstances and events surrounding him.
We should follow Joseph’s way of thinking. When things don’t go our way and we feel that the weight of the world is upon us, we need to look to God and praise him for what He has done for us and ask Him to lead us in the direction He wants us to go.
We need to ask him for the wisdom to see the whole picture and not just a small clip. Our faith should tell us that He wants us to have the best and He is willing and able to provide the best for us. I believe this is how Joseph managed to keep a positive outlook even when bad things were happening to him.
Scripture tells us that while Joseph was in prison, “…the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden” (Genesis 39:21). God provided Joseph with an attitude of kindness that led him to do everything he could for the other prisoners and for the prison warden.
When we are having difficulties in life, do we reflect an attitude of kindness which leads us to go out of our way to help someone else? Do we show love and compassion to someone else who is hurting or who is in an undesirable position or stressful circumstance? Do we wear a smile although we are hurting or do we frown and feel sorry for ourselves?
You and I have as much favor from God as Joseph had. God loves us as much as he loved Joseph. He will lead us and direct our steps if we just keep focused on His Son. Regardless of what we have done in our lifetime that was wrong, we have repented of those wrongdoings and accepted the gift of the Cross.
Paul said to the Corinthians: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
We are new creations because of our acceptance of what Jesus did for us. Our faith places us in a right standing with God the Father, through the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ who is in constant communications with us through the person of the Holy Spirit who lives within our heart.
While Joseph was in prison, God revealed the interpretation of the dreams of the baker and the butler. God gave Joseph the interpretation of the dreams they were true because God doesn’t mislead or give false information. The credit for the interpretations was given to God by Joseph.
God’s plan was to promote Joseph from prisoner to governor. Joseph stayed in prison another two full years, but he did not complain about the stay.
After two years, God revealed a dream to Pharaoh that really troubled him because he did not know what it meant. In fact Pharaoh had two dreams. One dream involved cows and the other dream involved grain.
All the magicians and wise men in Egypt could not interpret the dreams for Pharaoh. Scripture says, “In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him” (Genesis 41:8).
The magicians and the wise men could not interpret the dreams because the dreams were brought about by God and not by Satan. These dreams could only be interpreted by a person who had a close personal relationship with the Father. God had already given Joseph information concerning Pharaoh’s dreams while Joseph was still in prison. God works in mysterious ways.
Pharaoh called for Joseph to come forth and interpret his dreams. When Joseph appeared before Pharaoh and was asked to interpret the dreams, Joseph said, “I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires” (Genesis 41:16).
Joseph proceeded to tell Pharaoh that both dreams were really one dream. Joseph said, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine” (Genesis 41:28-32).
Can’t you just see Pharaoh sitting there in front of Joseph and talking in all that Joseph is saying? He probably had a dumbfounded or surprised look on his face. Maybe he just sat there staring at Joseph. Perhaps he was lost for words. Pharaoh probably did not know how he was going to handle the situation.
God led Joseph to continue to talk. Joseph said, “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine” (Genesis 41:33-36).
This was not Joseph’s plan, but it was God’s plan. This plan had been revealed to Joseph. God was preparing to save all the people from starvation and he was going to use Joseph as a vehicle to implement his plan.
Joseph now had Pharaoh’s attention and Pharaoh liked what he heard come from Joseph’s mouth. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you” (Genesis 41 39).
Pharaoh realized that Joseph was different. He noticed that credit was always given to God and Joseph made sure it was known. Knowing this, Pharaoh probably reasoned that Joseph must have a very close relationship with God. If one has a close relationship with God then the Spirit of God must be in that person.
Joseph was just about to be promoted. He was going from prisoner to governor of Egypt. I have a good feeling that Joseph knew the promotion was coming because of his obedience, faith and trust in God, but I am not sure if he knew the magnitude of the promotion. Did Joseph know that his title was going to be governor over all Egypt and he would be in second command?
Joseph definitely knew his position after Pharaoh said, “You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you” (Genesis 41:40).
If Joseph was going to be governor, he had to have all the essentials of royalty. Pharaoh took the signet ring off his finger and placed in on the finger of Joseph. A signet ring is one that bears some type of seal or impression. The signet ring showed that one had authority. The seal on the ring was usually engraved stone and was fastened to the ring.
Joseph’s new position of governor gave him the responsibility of managing financial matters for Pharaoh who was in turn responsible for managing the entire country.
Joseph not only received the signet ring, but Pharaoh “dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command…thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:41-43).
I guess you might say that Joseph moved right up the corporate ladder of success. He went from having nothing to being in charge of Egypt. He was placed in a number of undesirable circumstances by God and each of these circumstances enabled him to grow in the wisdom and knowledge of God. With his faith and obedience, Joseph was able to serve God by serving others.
When we find ourselves in undesirable circumstances, we need to remember that we are in a training program to serve God better. Everyday day we live, we are being groomed to serve the One who gave us the breath of life. Each day of life gives us the opportunity to step forth and help someone in need.
Joseph obeyed God by appearing before Pharaoh and interpreting his dream. He gave God the credit for the interpretation which gave Joseph a closer relationship with God and also a closer relationship with Pharaoh. Pharaoh was convinced that Joseph was the man to carry forth the revealed plan.
We should keep in mind that Joseph was a Hebrew and not an Egyptian. Since he would have control over Egypt, Pharaoh felt he should do something to make Joseph more receptive to the Egyptians. What did Pharaoh do?
First of all, he changed Joseph’s name. He gave him an Egyptian name. Scripture tells us that “Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah” (Genesis 41:45). The name change was necessary because the Egyptians did not really like the wandering shepherds. Also, Egyptians were more geared to remembering Egyptian names than Hebrew names.
Then next event in Joseph’s life was to receive an Egyptian wife. “Pharaoh gave Joseph Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On” (Genesis 41:45). Potiphera was a very prominent Egyptian official, so this was another way to bring Joseph into the royal family.
It interesting to note that On was a well-known and respected religious center in Egypt. The only issue was that these people in On worshiped the son-god. Joseph, a man of God, had a pagan or heathen marriage. This did not affect his relationship with God because Joseph knew God was directing his steps.
Joseph was thirty years of age when he became governor of Egypt. During the first seven years, the years of abundance, huge quantities of grain was stored and would be sold to people during the next seven years or the years of famine. Grain was a universal product that was used in almost everything the people ate. It could be dried and it would not spoil.
When the famine did come, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold the grain to the Egyptians and people from surrounding countries.
Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain because the famine had spread to Canaan. As the brothers approached Joseph, who they did not recognize, “…bowed down to him with their faces to the ground” (Genesis 42:6).
If you recall, this is exactly what happened in Joseph’s dream and this is what Joseph had revealed to his brothers. The brothers did not remember this or did not make the connection, but Joseph remembered what God had made known to him. God’s plan for our life is real. We need to listen and follow His directions.
Conclusion:
God talked to Joseph and Joseph listened. He shared his dreams with his brothers who would not listen. His brothers were determined to kill Joseph, but instead sold him to a caravan of Ishmaelites. Joseph was seventeen years of age when his brothers sold him into slavery.
He spent eleven years as a slave in Egypt. In addition, he spent two years in prison. Adding up those years, we find that Joseph was thirty years of age when he became governor of Egypt. He went from shepherd to slave to prisoner to governor of Egypt. After becoming governor, Joseph was instrumental in saving the people of Egypt and the surrounding countries from starvation.
The question is: What qualified Joseph to be governor of Egypt?
I believe the answer lies in Joseph’s relationship with God. His obedience, faith and trust in letting God direct his life brought him into a very close relationship with God and this relationship was evident to people around him.
The way Joseph treated people; his attitude of love and understanding for people; his positive attitude toward God regardless of the undesirable circumstances, and his witness by giving God the honor and glory for the wisdom and knowledge imparted to him was what qualified Joseph for the promotion to governor of Egypt.
Joseph had God’s favor just as you and I have God’s favor. God will provide for us just as he provided for Joseph if we keep our eyes focused on Him, follow His Word, obey His commands and listen as He speaks to us through the Person of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
